Sunday 23rd March 2025
Third Sunday of Lent
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Masses & Liturgies for the coming week...
Friday 21st March
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Lenten Mass
6:30pm Stations of the Cross led by parishioners
Saturday 22nd March
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Third Sunday of Lent
Sunday 23rd March
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Pope Francis
10am Mass of The Third Sunday of Lent
1:30pm Parish Walk – Tolkein Trail (See below for details)
Tuesday 25th March
5pm – 5:30pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5:45pm Mass, The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity)
The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the most important in the Church calendar. First, it celebrates the actual Incarnation of Our Savior -- the Word made flesh in the womb of His mother, Mary. Second, it is a principal Marian feast. Two other feasts honouring Our Lord's mother, the Assumption (August 15th), and the Immaculate Conception (December 8th). New Year's Day, January 1st, is observed as a Solemnity of Mary.
Wednesday 26th March
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Lenten Mass
10:30am Stations of the Cross
7pm Parish Bible Study (See below for details)
Thursday 27th March
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Lenten Mass
Friday 28th March
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Lenten Mass
6:30pm Stations of the Cross led by parishioners
Saturday 29th March
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Lenten Mass (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
Sunday 30th March
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (22nd March – 29th March), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Michael Salmon.
Our Lady's Lamp
This week (22nd March – 29th March), Our Lady's Lamp is for Family Prayers Needed.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£640.15. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Tuesday Evening Masses
Each Tuesday evening, starting from Tuesday 25th March (this week) until July, I'll be doing an online study programme with Unbound Ministry Training UK to help me further develop skills as a priest in and around the area of spiritual healing. The course begins at 6:30pm every Tuesday so for the next 14 weeks, temporarily, I'll be celebrating Tuesday Mass 15 minutes earlier at 5:45pm unless advertised differently.
Lancashire Martyr Talks
On behalf of our parish, I would like to thank Fr. John Broadley for the talks he prepared and delivered about Ven. Edward Rishton and Blessed Robert Nutter & Ven. John Nutter. Priests who ministered to the local Catholic community 400 hundred years ago while facing aggressive persecution from the state authorities. All those who attended the talks have said how informative they found Fr. Broadley's presentations and it made many pause for thought.
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
The next session is Wednesday 26th March from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better.
Parish Lenten & Easter Walks
Thank you to all those who came on the parish walk on Sunday. As always, the opportunity of spending time with the parish family was greatly appreciated by all who came. Sadly, nobody has come forward to facilitate a future walk but if you do feel inspired please contact the parish office stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Parish Easter Egg Raffle
We are hoping to begin our Parish Easter Raffle next weekend and it would be great if parishioners could donate only Easter eggs as prizes. If you are able to kindly donate an Easter egg then please pass them to one of the stewards at the back of church. Tickets will be available from the weekend of 22nd /23rdMarch (£1 a ticket or £5 a strip).
Easter Flowers
Each year (Christmas & Easter) we offer the opportunity for people to sponsor a flower display in church in prayer for a loved one who has died or for deceased family and friends. We are blessed to have Maureen and other volunteers who freely share their talents to make this happen so that the windows in church and the statues of St. Patrick, St. Joseph and St. Margaret Clitherow are beautifully decorated. If you would like to sponsor a display for £20 please see Maureen Mullen personally this year with your money (Maureen is usually available at church on Wednesday mornings, Friday mornings and Sunday mornings). There has been a significant increase to the cost of flowers so if people would like to donate money for flowers in general during the Easter season then please put your donation in an envelope marked 'Flower Money'. Thank you.
Lenten Day Retreat
The Parish of Our Lady of Hope in Salford is hosting a Day Retreat to help us prepare and reflect during this season of Lent. Taking place at Ss Peter and Paul RC Church, the retreat will include time for Adoration, praise and worship, with talks from guest speakers John Hesketh and Daniella Stephens. The retreat takes place on Saturday 29 March, 10am - 4pm. Lunch will be provided.
Lourdes Diocesan Youth Group
Are you a young person looking to take part in a pilgrimage this year? Do you want to make new friends, build community, and grow in your faith together as a pilgrim of hope? Why not join the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes between 30th July to 7th August? Cost per person is £669, including travel by coach, hotel accommodation, and all meals. Young people can join one of three age groups made up of young pilgrims from across the diocese: 13-15 (aspiring volunteers), 16-17, and 18+. For more information or to register, please email youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk.
Diocesan Youth Ministry Pilgrimages
Our diocesan youth ministry team is organising two fantastic pilgrimage opportunities, led by Bishop John, for young people in Years 7, 8, and 9. The first pilgrimage will take place on Saturday 3 May with a pilgrimage to Walsingham, in conjunction with our main diocesan pilgrimage. The second is a pilgrimage to The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, taking place between 20-22 June. Find out more and register at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/youth/ministry/prayer-and-pilgrimage
Are you aged between 18 and 35 or know someone who is?
Our diocesan charity Caritas Diocese of Salford is looking for young adult volunteers to join their governance committee as co-opted members to help shape the charity in the coming months and years. Find out more about how you can help tackle poverty, homelessness, disadvantage, and displacement in our parish communities at www.caritassalford.org.uk/youngadultboard
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham 2025
Our diocesan pilgrimage office is now taking bookings for its next annual pilgrimage to Walsingham. Our pilgrimage in this Holy Year of Jubilee will take place on Saturday 3 May 2025, with an option to extend your visit by staying overnight on Friday 2 May. For more information, prices, and details on how to book, please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/walsingham-pilgrimage-2025 or call 0161 817 2209
Mass for People who are Sick and People with Caring Responsibilities
A special Mass to mark the Jubilee for People who are Sick and People with Caring Responsibilities will be taking place on Saturday 5 April. The Mass, celebrated by Bishop John, will also include an opportunity for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Mass begins at 2pm at Salford Cathedral's Temporary Church. All are welcome to attend.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien